Unit heater



Oct. 9, 1928. 1,687,240

'-C. M. GARLAND UNIT HEATER Filed Jan. 26, 1926 Patented 'Oct. 9,' 1928.

UNITED STATES I CLAUDE M. GARLAND, OI CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

UNIT HEATER.

Application filed January 26, 1928. Serial No. 83,942.

My invention relates to what are termed unit heaters which usually consist of a bank of heating elements of rectangular section with a fan placed in the rear which forces air from the room through the heating elements which are maintained at a high temperature 'by means of steam or hot water which is caused to circulate therethrough. Such heaters are commonly suspended from the ceilings or roofs of manufacturing buildings and are used for heating the surrounding air. Where the heating elements are arranged as above described, the air is forced out directly in front of the heater and while a number of such heaters may be used in a long building one in front of the other, yet the distribution of the hot air from the heaters is not uniform and it isnot possible to obtain efiicient and uniformed heating of the space from su all an arrangement.

My invention has for its object the provision of a unit heater in which the heating elements are arranged to form an enclosure with a fan to force the air from this enclosure throu h the heating elements in all directions whereliy greater uniformity and efiiciency are obtained in the heating- The heating ele. ments are preferably arranged in the form of a hollow truncated inverted cone, although they may be arranged in the form of a cylinder, square or other enclosure. A further- 1 object of my invention is to providemeans whereby the heated air-does not issue constantly in all directions from the heating elements but is caused to issue in the form of a stream which revolves about the center of the heating elements. being concentrated on any given spot for a long period of time which is sometimes disagreeable to workmen employed in the building, and also permits of higher air velocities and a greater heating range for each heater.

Objects and further advantages of my invention will be disclosed in the following specification and the accompanying drawings which form a part thereof. Referring to the drawings in which like numerals refer to like parts, Figure 1 shows a sectional elevation of my heater taken on the center line of Figure 3 which is a plan thereof. Figure 2 is an en larged section of the heating elements 3, as shown in Figure 1.

Referring to Figure 1, the numeral 1 indicates an annular upper header of rectangular section provided with an inlet connection 20 and lugs 22 for the suspension of the heater.

This prevents the hot air are preferably arranged in the form of an in-.

verted truncated'cone. The heating elements 3 may be of any suitable type such as is used for automobile radiators but-preferably consist of tubes 18, as shown in the enlarged section Figure 2, which are threaded through holes in the lates or fins 19. These tubes 18 are expanded into holes in the upper and lower headers 1 and 2. The fins 19 serve to direct the discharge of air and increase the heating surface. The tubes 18 are inclined to the vertical so that the fins 19 tend to discharge the air toward the floor. Y

The lower header 2 is provided with a beam 8 rigidly mounted thereon and extending diametrically across. On this beam 8 is rigidly mounted the ballbearing 7, which is attached to the bottom plate Got a rotatable truncated cone 4. The rotatable truncated cone 4 is provided with an upper beam 14 extending thereac ro'ss and rigidly attached at the ends,

thereto, on which is mounted a vertical axle 15. This axle 15 is carried in the ballb'earing 16 which is rigidly attached to the underside of the beam 17 which is in turn removably attached at the ends to the upper header 1, in order to make possible the easy removal of the rotatable truncated cone 4. Through this construction the truncated cone 4 is adapted to rotate within the'heating elements 3. Another beam 10 passes diametrically across the truncated cone 4 and is riveted at the ends thereto. This beam carries a motor 9 Which is rigidly mounted thereon. The

motor 9 carries the fan Wheel 11- attached to its axle. The fan wheel 11 extends into the discharge housing 12, which is attached to the revolving truncated cone 4. Mounted in the discharged housing 12 is the driving vane 23 whereby when the motor is in operation the discharge of air throughthe fan causes the truncated cone 4 to revolve about the axle 15. The truncated cone 4 is provided with the large opening 5' through which air for the fan is drawn and then discharged through the discharge housing 12.

The operation of the preferred arrangement of my heater is as follows:

The heater is suspended from the roof of the building by means of the lugs 22. A

steam supplying means is connected to the upper header at and the return or exhaust is connected to the lower header through a trap at 21. Electric current is turned on and the fan begins to operate drawing air in through the opening 5 and discharging it through the discharge housing 12 of the revolvable truncated cone 4. As the air passes through the fan wheel 11 it strikes the vane 23 which is arranged at an angle to the path of the air and the truncated cone 4 carrying the motor 9 is caused to rot-ate. By varying the angle which the vane 23 makes with the air the speed of rotation of the truncated cone 4 may be. increased or decreased.

The steam or water whichever the heating medium may he enters the upper header at 20 passes down through the heating elements 3 the said. radiall whereby. the sai sitions.

into the header 2 out through the opening 21.

From the above description it will be seen that I have provided a heater that is simple in construction and which distributes the hot air radially about the heater thereby providing greater uniformity in the heating of buildings. While the parts shown and described are the preferred arrangements I desire it'to be nnderstood that my invention is not limited" to the precise construction set forth but contains within its purview such changes as maybe made within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is- 1. In a heater of the type described, heating elements, means for introducing a heating medium into the said heating elements, means for discharging the exhausted heating medium therefrom, means for causing a current of air to pass between the said heating elements means for radially direct ing the air therefrom, and means for causing directed air to rotate,

charged in successive different angular po- 2. In a unit heater of the type described, heating elements arranged to form an inclosure,'a' connection for the admission of a heating medium to the said heating elements,

a connection for exhausting the heating mediu'm therefrom, and means for causing a cur rent of air to pass from the outside between a portion of the said heating elements into the interior of the said inclosure and from the interior out between another portion of the said elements and means for continuously causing the current 'of air to rotate about the center of the said inclosure whereby the said current of air is continuously passing between different portions of the said heating elements.

3! In a unit heater of the type described,

' an upper header, an inlet connection tothe said upper header, a lower header, an exhaust connection to the said lower hader,

air is continuously dis res nt heating elements establishing communication i means to rotate, whereby the said air is drawn I in and passed out through successive portions of the said heating elements.

4:. In apparatus of the type described, an

upper annular header, a connection for the admission of a heating medium to the said] header, a lower annular header, a connection f for the exhaust of the heating medium from the said lower annular header, heating elements establishing communication between the said headers whereby an lllClOSUZG is formed by the said heating elements, a cover for closing the opening in the upper header, means for closing the opening in the lower header, and means for causing a current of air to pass from Without between a portion of said heating elements to the interior of the inclosure and out between a different portion of the said heating elements, and means for causing the said current of air to rotate about the center of'the said inclosure whereby the said current of air'is causedto continuously pass between different portions of the said heating elements.

5. In a unit heater of the type described, a chamber or inclosure, heating elements forming the side walls thereof, a motor revolvably mounted in the said chamber, a fan wheel driven by the said motor, and means for causing the said motor to rotate when the said'fan wheel is in operation whereby a rotating stream of air is caused to pass through the side Walls thereof.

6. In a unit heater of the type described, a i I chamber .or inclosure, heating elements forming the sidewalls thereof, means for closing the ends of the said chamber, a motor revolvably mounted in the said chamber,a fan wheel driven by the said motor, and means for caus ing the said motor to rotate about an axis of the said chamber when the said fan wheel is in operation whereby a rotatin stream of air is caused to pass through the side walls thereof.

- 7. In a unit heater of the type described, a chamber, heating elements forming the side walls thereof, an upper header communicating with the upper end of the said side walls, an inlet for the admission of a heating medium to the said upper header, a lower header communicating with the lower end of the said side walls, a connection for the exhausting of the heating medium therefrom, and a fan revolvably mounted within the said chamber whereby a rotating current of air is caused to pass from without through a portion of the side walls to the said chamber to the interior there of and therefrom through another portion of the side walls ofsaid chamber. a

8. In a unit heater of the type described, a chamber, heating elements forming the side walls therefor, an upper header communicating with the upper end of the said side walls, a lower header communicating with the lower end of the said side Walls, means for closing the ends of the said chamber, and a fan revolvably mounted in the said chamber whereby a rotating stream of air may be caused to pass through the side walls of the said chamber.

9. In a unit heater of the type described, an

air chamber, heating elements forming the side walls thereof, means for closing one-end of the said chamber, a revolvably mounted motor within the said chamber, a fan wheel driven by the said motor, means for closing the opposite end of the said chamber, and

. means whereby the said motor is caused to revolve when the said fan wheel is driven thereb 10. n a unit heater of the type described, a chamber, heating elements forming the side walls thereof, an upper header communicating with the upper end of the said heating elements, a lower header communicating with the opposite end of the said heatin elements, a revolvably mounted motor within the said chamber, a fan wheel adapted to be driven by the said motor, means for closing the opposite ends of the said chamber, and means for cansing the said motor to revolve when the fan "Wheel is driven thereby.

11, In a unit heater of the type described,- an annular chamber, heating elements forming the side walls thereof, an annular upper header communicating with the upper end of the said heating elements, an annular lower header communicating with the lower end of the said heating elements, a cover plate closing the opening in the said upper annular header, a revolvable mcmber mounted within the said chamber and adapted to rotate therev in, a motor mounted in the said revolvable member, a fan wheel adapted to be driven by the said motor, a discharge housing formed in the side of the said revolvable member to receive the air from the said fan wheel, an opening in the wall of the said revolvable member oppositely disposed to the said discharge housing whereby air may be drawn in through the said opening and between the said heating elements adjacent thereto on the operation of the said fan and be dischar ed through the said discharge housing and hetween the heating elements adjacent thereto, and a vane mounted in the said discharge housing whereby air dischar ed from the said fan causes the said revolva le member to rotate.

12. In a unit heater of the type described, a truncated conical chamber, heating elements forming the side Walls thereof, an upper annular header communicating with the upper end of the said heating elements, a lower anthe said bearing, a beam rigidly mounted in the upper end of the said revolvable sheet metal truncated cone, an axle carried by the said beam, a removable, beam rigidly mounted in the said upper header, a bearing mounted on the said removable beam, the said axle being normally held in the said bearing whereby the said revolvable sheet metal truncated cone may rotate about the said axle a beam mounted near the center of the said revolvable sheet metal truncated cone and extending thereacross, a motor mounted on the said beam, a fan wheel carried by the said motor and adapted to be driven thereby, a discharge housing formed in the side of the said revolvable truncated cone and adapted to receive the air from the said fan wheel, an openingtruncated cone to revolve when -.the motor is driving the said fan wheel.

13. In a unit heater of the type described, having a hollow truncated conical chamber, heating elements forming the side walls thereof, a hollow sheet metal truncated cone within the said chamber, the said truncated cone being adapted to rotate therein, a motor mounted within the said cone, a fan Wheel carried by the said motor, a discharge housing mounted in the said hollow truncated cone and adapted to receive the air from the said fan wheel, an opening oppositely disposed to the said fan wheel and in the said hollow sheet metal truncated cone, and means-for causing the said sheet metal truncated cone to rotate when the motor drives the said fan wheel. a 14. In a unit heater of the type described, having a truncated conical chamber, heating elements formin the side walls thereof, a hollow truncated cone rotatably' mounted Within the said chamber, a fan mounted -in the said hollow truncated cone, a motor for driving the said fan mounted therein, a discharge housing adapted to receive the air from the said fan, an opening oppositely disposed to the said fan and in the said hollow truncated cone, means for closing the lower end of the said hollow truncated cone, and means for closing the upper end of the said chamber substantially as described.

In testimony thereof I have afiixed my signature.

CLAUDE M. GARLAND. 

